ARCATA - The exhibition preparation games are over. The Lumberjacks are now set to step onto the basketball floor where it will count this weekend.
The road back to the top of the California Collegiate Athletic Association ranks begins cannot not start much tougher for the Humboldt State women's basketball program.
After playing an extremely tough trio of exhibition opponents, the Lumberjacks will take part in the inaugural West Region Challenge in the opening weekend of the 2013-14 basketball season hosted by Fresno Pacifice University.
HSU will face two of NCAA Division II West Region's best programs in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's Seattle Pacific University and sixth-ranked Western Washington University.
West Region Challenge inked for next four seasons
• Starting this weekend, the four participants of Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, Fresno Pacific and HSU begin the first of four-straight classic matchups in the early seasons from 2013-16.
• The location of the early season classic format will be on a rotating basis - Fresno Pacific begins as the host this weekend with the event moving to Seattle Pacific for 2014, Humboldt State for 2015 and Western Washington for the final 2016 edition
• The matchups will remain the same each year due to Seattle Pacific and Western Washington both being members of the GNAC, while HSU (CCAA) and Fresno Pacific (PacWest) being from different leagues
• Jacks' coach Joddie Gleason on the Challenge: "We tried to increase the strength of schedule with Seattle Pacific and Western Washington both being perennial powerhouses and gives us the toughest schedule we have ever had in my time here this year."
Gleason set to lead HSU for 10th season
• Completing a decade at the helm in 2013-14, HSU head coach Joddie Gleason aims to return the program to the CCAA elite.
• The Jacks come off their toughest of the past nine with a 10-18 overall mark and 6-16 CCAA finish
• The veteran coach has compiled 150 victories in her nine years directing the program and holds a .588 winning percentage
• Guided HSU to its only CCAA tournament title and two NCAA West Region appearances with two 20-win and one 19-win seasons.
HSU aims to build upon rigorous preseason exhibition contests
• Following a home double overtime defeat to a 23-win Oregon Tech squad, HSU raised the level of exhibition competition to the NCAA Division I level with pair of contests last weekend.
• The Jacks put a scare into the Aggies of UC Davis last Friday and gave the Big West member a solid contest. UC Davis fended off HSU for an eventual 80-59 win.
-Dani Gaumer paced the Jacks with 13 points including three triples and three steals.
-Kersey Wilcox handed out six assists to go with 10 points and six rebounds.
-Jae Shin and Elle Anderson added nine and eight points
• After a close opening part of the first half, Santa Clara pulled away from HSU last Sunday by a 94-68 final.
-Sumayyah Wiggins was the game's top scorer with 20 points on seven of 11 from the floor.
-Gaumer chipped in another 13 points
-Kelly Kime and Megan Shields both finished with eight tallies
• Coach Gleason on the two NCAA Division I games:
"Last weekend, we are really happy with how we played down at UC Davis and Santa Clara. Both games provided big challenges - both competition and size-wise - and we competed very well.
At times, we had a tough time scoring as we had flurries in both games, which is where (the other team's) scoring opened (the games) up. Both teams were big and skilled as UC Davis really outsized us and Santa Clara's inside game gave us trouble."
Jacks balance gives offense more for opponents to be concerned
• After losing All-CCAA first team player Lisa Petty, who led the team in scoring by 10 points per game, HSU has shown a much more balanced scoring column over its three exhibition contests.
• The Jacks saw six players average at least seven points per contest and two players recording double figure averages.
• HSU hit 25 triples in three contests at a .342 clip
• The charity stripe was an place of many points in the games where HSU made 61 of 77 tries for a 79.2% rate.
** West Region Challenge Competition **
(Hosted by Fresno Pacific University)
Live Stats & Video of Both Games: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/fpu.portal#
Probable Starters
Humboldt State
#10 - Jae Shin, G, 5-7, Jr., Seattle, Wash.
#12 - Kersey Wilcox, G, 5-6, Jr., Prineville, Ore.
#24 - Kelly Kime, F, 5-11, Sr., Eureka
#25 - Elle Anderson, F, 6-1, Sr., Carlton, Ore.
#32 - Megan Shields, C, 6-1, Jr., Sherwood, Ore.
Seattle Pacific
#11 - Suzanna Ohlsen, G, 5-7, Jr., Monroe, Wash.
#14 - Aubree Callen, G, 5-9, Sr., Jerome, Idaho
#31 - Mechela Barnes, G, 5-6, Sr., Tacoma, Wash.
#32 - Katie Benson, F, 6-1, Sr., Snohomish, Wash.
#44 - Riley Butler, C, 6-2, Sr., Kent, Wash.
Western Washington
#00 - Sarah Hill, F, 6-3, Sr., Richmond, Wash.
#20 - Katie Colard, G, 5-9, Jr., McCleary, Wash.
#22 - Jenni White, G, 5-5, Jr., Spokane, Wash.
#33 - Kiana Gandy, F, 5-10, Fr., Des Moines, Wash.
#42 - Sydney Donaldson, F, 6-0, Jr., Edmonds, Wash.
vs. Seattle Pacific (17-11/10-8 GNAC 2012-13 record)
(Fri. at 7:30 in Fresno, Calif.)
• Series History: SPU leads 26-2
• Last Meeting: SPU won 74-62 during the 2009-10 season
• Last HSU Series Win: HSU won 78-65 in the 1996-97 season
• Coached by 9th-year head coach Julie Heisey -- holds a 177-55 mark over first eight years directing the Falcons -- compiled 339-174 record over 17 years as a head coach
-led SPU to five NCAA DII appearances and four GNAC titles
• Fell in second game of the GNAC Tournament to Simon Fraser, 63-55, in last contest
• Did not play any preseason exhibition contests
• Picked 2nd in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll with one first place vote
• Returns four starters and five other letterwinners from a year ago
• Forward Katie Benson and point guard Aubree Callen were GNAC Preseason Conference All-Star unanimous selections
-Benson, a senior, is the team's returning leading scorer at 16.4 ppg and rebounder (6.6 rpg) -- she was an All-GNAC selection and SPU MVP
-Callen finished 6th in the GNAC with 106 assists with a 12.8-point average
• Coach Gleason on SPU:
"They were picked second in the GNAC and are always a tough team. They are one team which is always battling to win that league.
Julie (Heisey) does a great job with the team. Her team are always play hard and they will be big and physical and expect a great game."
vs. #6 Western Washington University (29-4/17-1 GNAC 2012-13 record)
(Sat. at 5:30 in Fresno, Calif.)
• Series History: WWU leads 20-2
• Last Meeting: HSU won 74-64 during the 2008-09 season
• Last HSU Series Win: last meeting
•Ranked 6th in the NCAA DII preseason poll
• Coached by 23rd-year Carmen Dolpho -- ranks 12th in NCAA DII for wins with a 475-173 record, which gives her the 9th-best winning percentage of 73.3% -- guided Vikings to 17 20-win seasons and 21 postseason appearances including reaching the DII national semifinals in both 2000 and last year in 2013
• Return two starters and seven total letterwinners from team which went 29-4 and won the GNAC and West Region titles
• Both forward Sydney Donaldson and center Sarah Hill were GNAC Preseason Conference All-Star picks
-Donaldson, a unanimous selection, came off the bench last season to average 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest
-Hill, a 6-3 senior, had idential point and rebound averages of 6.2
• Lost top three scorers from last year's team -- Junior Katie Colard is the top point returner at 7.6 ppg with 60 three-pointers made
• Defeated Quest (B.C.) in exhibition contest last Saturday night at home, 90-58
-Junior transfer from Sacramento State Taylor Peacocke paced WWU with 21 points on eight of 13 shooting
-Sarah Hill recorded a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds
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